Battle of Suakin
| Battle of Suakin | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Mahdist War | |||||||
 Battle of Suakin | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 United Kingdom*  India[1] Egypt |
 Mahdist State | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Francis Grenfell |
Osman Digna (WIA) | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 12 killed | 1,000 killed | ||||||
The Battle of Suakin (also known as the Battle of Gemaizah), occurred on 20 December 1888 during the Mahdist War, when General Francis Grenfell defeated a Mahdist (Often called Dervishes by Europeans), force near Suakin, a chief port of Sudan.
The Mahdist force, under Osman Digna, had advanced on Suakin with an intention to invest it. From Suakin, General Grenfell launched a sortie against the Mahdists,[2] who were attempting to capture the Water Forts.[3] After one and a half hours of fighting, the casualties were 12 on the Anglo- Egyptian side and 1,000 on the side of the Mahdists. After this, the Mahdists withdrew, removing any threat to Suakin.[4]
General Kitchener was present, commanding an Egyptian Army brigade comprising Sudanese troops, this being the first battle where units of the Egyptian Army played a significant part since its reform by the British. They performed well in battle, enhancing the reputation of both the reformed Egyptian Army and of General Kitchener.[5]
In the battle, three of the swords of the 20th Hussars broke short, an incident which later caused debate in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.[6]
Egyptian and British forces present received both the Egypt Medal with clasp 'Gemaizah 1888' and the Bronze Khedive's Star.[2]
Forces[edit]
The British forces involved in the battle were:[7]
- Royal Navy
- 20th Hussars
- 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
- 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment
- 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles
References[edit]
- ^ Ernest Gambier-Parry, Suakin, 1885 : being a sketch of the campaign of this year (1885), (London : K. Paul, Trench & Co.)
- ^ a b Joslin, E. C.; Litherland, A. R.; Simpkin, B. T., eds. (1988). British Battles and Medals. London: Spink. p. 164. ISBN 9780907605256.
- ^ "Egypt Medal 1882–1889, 1 Clasp Gemaizah". Constantius. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012.
- ^ Steward, W. Augustus (2008). War Medals and Their History. Read Books. ISBN 978-1-4086-9712-2.
- ^ Barthorp., Michael (1984). War on the Nile. Dorset: Blandford Press. p. 134. ISBN 9780713718584.
- ^ "Army—The Battle at Suakin—The Broken Swords of the 20th Hussars". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 332. House of Commons. 21 December 1888. col. 974.
- ^ "Sudan Wars, 1884-1889". 2007-10-20. Archived from the original on 2007-10-20. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
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